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Alexander Anderson POV
As I sat there, cigar in hand, watching the smoke curl lazily toward the ceiling, my mind drifted to the future of my gang. The weight of leadership had never felt heavier. Handing over the reins was inevitable, but the thought of passing the throne to Mike left me with a gnawing unease. Yeah, he was my soon-to-be daughter-in-law’s little brother, but there was nothing little about him anymore.
Across the room, he lounged in his chair, speaking Russian in a low, measured tone, his expression unreadable. On the screen in front of him, shadowy figures nodded along, their faces barely illuminated by the glow of the monitor. Shady business, no doubt. Yet, as I observed him, I couldn’t deny the truth staring me in the face—Mike was a force to be reckoned with. He had the mind for this life, the guts, the hunger. A sharp contrast to the reckless, scrawny kid I first met.
He wasn’t innocent—not by a long shot. But innocence had no place in our world. What mattered was control. Strength. Cunning. And Mike had all three. Maybe, just maybe, he was exactly what this organization needed. A fresh mind. A new era. Time would tell whether he’d build an empire or burn it all to the ground.
Lost in thought, I barely registered the vibration of my phone until it blared to life, shattering the quiet. The name flashing on the screen made me groan—Blake. A magnet for trouble if there ever was one.
I debated ignoring it, but then Mike’s gaze snapped to mine, sharp as a blade. He didn’t say a word, but his eyes? They spoke volumes. Answer it.
Reluctantly, I pressed the phone to my ear, ready to tell Blake off. But before I could even open my mouth, he hit me with something that made my breath catch. My grip tightened around the phone.
What he said… it changed everything.
I let out a long sigh, trying to steady the fire burning inside me. Every muscle in my body screamed for action, for retribution against those bastards. But I couldn't let rage cloud my judgment—not yet. Instead, I forced a smirk, offering some reassurance.
"Don’t worry about it," I told him, my voice calm despite the storm raging beneath. "Just focus on taking care of Asher. I'll handle the rest."
With that, I ended the call and turned to Mike. He was watching me, his gaze sharp, calculating. He didn’t say a word, but I could feel the weight of his scrutiny. He knew something had shifted. And he was right.
This wasn’t just business anymore. It was personal.
Then there was Serena. The moment she showed that hidden fire of hers, I was blindsided. Who the hell would’ve thought that behind that sweet, composed exterior lay a woman with the kind of backbone most men could only dream of? It was like a whole new side of her had been unleashed—fearless, unwavering. The way she handled herself? Damn impressive.
And Asher… that poor fool was already gone for her, whether he admitted it or not. It was written all over his face. When Serena finally confessed what she’d done, I nearly lost it—not in anger, but excitement. My first instinct? Tell Asher to drop to one knee right there. A woman like that? You don’t waste time. But I held back, letting the moment play out, reveling in the sheer chaos of it all.
What a damn ride. And I had a feeling this was only the beginning.
As I strode toward Mike, I could see the curiosity flickering behind his cool demeanor. The kid always wanted to be two steps ahead. But not this time.
"What happened?" he asked, his tone casual—but I knew better.
I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I reached out and shut the camera off on his laptop. No prying eyes. No distractions.
